9 More Terror Camps Cleared, 4 Insurgents Killed - Army

Troops of the Nigerian Army have in the last three days cleared nine Boko Haram camps, killing four insurgents in the process.

The media coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Tukur Gusau, said in a press release that the troops of 115 Task Force Battalion, under 28 Task Force Brigade, during clearance operations  between 3-5 November, 2015, cleared nine  more terrorist strongholds around Lassa axis.

According to Gusau, the terrorist camps were in Lassa, Muthavo, Dagu, Kumabza,  Izge, Unworo, Zangore, Kilekasa and Pumpum.

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Abuja Bound Plane Makes Air Return To Lagos

An Abuja bound Boeing aircraft on Thursday morning made an air return to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, having developed a technical problem a few minutes after takeoff.

The Medview Airlines plane with many passengers on board was said to have developed a pressurization problem at 8000 feet which affected its cooling system.

The airline was said to have provided another aircraft which conveyed the passengers to Abuja.

A brief statement from the airline said; “An Abuja-bound Medview Airlines aircraft made an air return this morning (yesterday). At about 8,000 feet altitude, it developed a pressurisation problem, which affected the cooling system. The pilot properly briefed the passengers and landed safely. There was no panic. Another aircraft was made available and passengers were flown to Abuja.”

According to aviation sources, an air return is a standard operational procedure in which a pilot returns to the airport of takeoff on observation of a technical problem with the airliner.

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Why we stopped Dasuki's medical trip - DSS

The Department of State Services has explained why it stopped former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki's overseas medical trip.

The DSS said in a statement issued on Thursday that Dasuki's refusal to appear before its investigative panel left it with no option than to adopt a legal means to ensure his appearance.

Here is the statement :

"The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been brought to the report making rounds that its operatives illegally blocked the residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki (Col/Rtd), in violation of a subsisting court order granting him a relief to travel oversea for medical services.

"This is to say the least that such report is not only unfounded and malicious but aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Service.

"It may be recalled that Sambo Dasuki was initially arrested and charged to court for unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering, for which reason his international passport was seized and on the order of the court, returned to the registrar for custody. What has however brought the seeming standoff between Sambo Dasuki and the Service, despite the court-ordered release of his international passport on 4th November, 2015, is his refusal to appear before a Committee undertaking the investigation of an entirely different case.

"The public may wish to note that the government set up the Committee to investigate procurement processes relating to a two billion dollar ($2billion) arms transaction by the last administration, under which SAMBO was the NSA. It was on this premise that he was invited by the Committee to shed more light on his involvement in the deal. It, therefore, remains surprising and shocking that SAMBO has refused to honour invitations of the Committee but instead resorts to grandstanding and subtle blackmail of the Service. His refusal to appear before the Committee has left the Service with no option than to adopt legal means to ensure his attendance.

"Therefore, without doubt, SAMBO is pulling all strings available to him to evade justice and put the Service in bad light. The simple fact is that the DSS is not persecuting him. Nigerians are therefore enjoined to disregard the impression being created by him. This Service wishes to re-emphasise its commitment to the rule of law and strict adherence to democratic ideals. However, any person or group, no matter how highly placed, that may wish to test the will of the present democratic dispensation, will definitely be checked through the legal provisions of the law.*

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Dasuki Refuses To Personally Receive Invitation Letter From DSS

Operatives of the Department of State Services on Thursday laid seige to the Abuja residence of former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki for close to 9 hours.

The operatives were said to have gone there to serve the former NSA a fresh invitation for questioning on a security issue.

However , Dasuki who refused to meet the operatives in person asked them to give the letter to his aides.

Dasuki described the DSS team's insistence on personally handing him the letter as strange.

He told the team through his aides that he would rather honor an invitation backed by a warrant of arrest from the court.

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Army Commissions Media Center In Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday commissioned a media center for its counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast.

The center based in Maiduguri, Borno State was commissioned by the Grand Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army,Major General Lamidi Adeosun. 

He said that the center will always be open to the media for information on the activities of the Army in the region, especially as regards the counter-insurgency operations.

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How Security Agents Scuttled Dasuki's Overseas Medical Trip

Former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki's hope of traveling abroad for medical treatment was on Wednesday night dashed by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Tuesday granted Dasuki permission to travel overseas for medical treatment.

Having been stopped on Wednesday night, Dasuki made another attempt to travel on Thursday morning but was equally stopped by security operatives who did not give any reasons for their action.

A perplexed Dasuki is now said to be considering a return to the court to seek redress against the security agencies which interrupted his overseas medical trip.

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Avoid waste and conserve resources, Buhari tells ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged would be ministers to align with the goals of his administration and be change agents for the transformation of the country.

Buhari spoke on Thursday while opening a two day retreat for Ministers-designate at the old banquet hall of Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the retreat tagged “Delivering Change: From Precepts to Practice,” the president tasked the would be ministers to respect the rule of law and shun impunity in the conduct of the business of government.

While reminding them of his campaign promises of fighting corruption, insecurity and revamping the economy, he told ministers to be that the essence of the retreat was to intimate them with the direction of his administration.

He also admonished them to “Avoid wastes and conserve resources.”

Finally, he told them that the office of the Chief of Staff is the official channel of communication between them and the Presidency, in accordance with the dictates of the presidential system of government.

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